A Comprehensive Guide to Scholarships for Polish Americans (2026)

If you're a student of Polish descent in the US, you're in the best position of anyone globally when it comes to heritage scholarship funding. The Polish-American community is one of the largest diaspora communities anywhere, and the scholarship infrastructure it built over more than a century reflects that: national foundations, fraternal organizations, state-level grants, university endowments, and community awards for everything from engineering to journalism to pilot training. Awards range from $500 local grants up to national scholarships worth $12,000. This guide pulls all of it together: organized from national programs down to local awards, with amounts, eligibility, deadlines, and direct application links.

Just starting your search? We're glad you're here. This is exactly what we built it for. And if you're also open to studying abroad, the Polish government offers fully funded degree programmes through NAWA, open to US citizens of Polish descent. Our Complete Guide to Polish Heritage Scholarships covers those alongside scholarships in Canada and the UK.

Deadlines and amounts change annually. Verify directly with each organization before applying.

National scholarships

Kosciuszko Foundation Tuition Scholarship

The foundation that matters most. Established in 1925 in a Manhattan townhouse on East 65th Street, KF is the single largest source of Polish-American scholarships. One application gets you considered for multiple sub-programs (several listed below). Open to all majors. $40 non-refundable application fee.

• Amount: $1,000–$12,000
• Eligibility: US citizen of Polish descent or Polish citizen with permanent US residency. Minimum 3.0 GPA, full-time undergraduate or graduate at an accredited US institution.
• Deadline: February 27
• Apply: thekf.org/scholarship/tuition-scholarships

Drs. James and Wanda Trefil Science Scholarship (KF)

STEM-specific. Natural sciences only: physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, earth science, biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology. Note the higher GPA bar: 3.5, versus 3.0 for the general KF scholarship.

• Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: Undergraduate (freshman–junior), Polish descent, 3.5 GPA, natural sciences major
• Deadline: approximately February 17

Dr. Marie E. Zakrzewski Medical Scholarship (KF)

Named after a pioneering Polish-American physician. If you fit the narrow eligibility, the applicant pool is small.

• Amount: $3,500
• Eligibility: Women only. Massachusetts residents only. 1st–3rd year M.D. students. Polish descent.
• Deadline: January 10–16

Massachusetts Federation of Polish Women's Clubs Scholarship (KF)

Administered through KF's central portal.

• Amount: $1,250
• Eligibility: Undergraduate (2nd–4th year), Massachusetts resident, Polish descent, 3.0 GPA
• Deadline: January 10

Arthur and Genevieve Roth Scholarship (KF)

Preference for Long Island University business students, but open to all qualifying Polish-heritage applicants.

• Amount: $1,000
• Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate, Polish descent
• Deadline: January 10

KF Exchange Program to Poland

Study at a Polish university, including Jagiellonian in Kraków. Combines KF funding with Polish government support.

• Amount: ~$2,000/semester (KF) + NAWA tuition waiver + PLN 1,800/month
• Eligibility: Undergraduate (sophomore+) and graduate, US citizen, 3.0 GPA
• Deadline: approximately March

Marcella Sembrich Voice Competition (KF)

Competitive recital format. If you're a singer of Polish heritage, this is one of the few awards in the country designed specifically for you.

• Amount: $1,500+
• Eligibility: Voice performance students under 35, Polish heritage
• Deadline: approximately April 5

Chicago Society of the Polish National Alliance — Kulze Scholarship

Named after former Chicago Society president James Kulze. Six awards totaling $35,000. Previous recipients ineligible; one per immediate family per year.

• Amount: Up to $10,000 (top award); $5,000 × 5
• Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate (no high school seniors). US citizen or permanent resident of Polish ancestry, 3.0 GPA, financial need.
• Deadline: May 8, 2026
• Apply: chicagosocietyfoundation.org/kulze

Polish National Alliance (PNA) — Undergraduate Scholarship

PNA earmarked $250,000 for scholarships in 2025. In the undergraduate round alone, 63 students shared $100,300.

• Amount: Up to $2,500/student (~$100,000 pool)
• Eligibility: PNA member with $10,000+ life insurance policy (3+ years good standing). Undergraduate (sophomore+), Polish descent, 3.0 GPA.
• Deadline: approximately April 15
• Apply: pna-znp.org

Polish National Alliance (PNA) — Graduate Scholarship

Same membership requirement. Combined with the undergraduate round, PNA sent $150,300 to 90 students in 2025.

• Amount: Varies (~$50,000 pool; 27 recipients in 2025)
• Eligibility: PNA member, graduate student
• Deadline: June 15

Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA) — Educational Scholarship

Membership not required. One of the few major national Polish-American scholarships that explicitly does not require organizational membership. No insurance policy, no dues. Awards paid to your institution.

• Amount: ~$25,000 total pool
• Eligibility: US citizen or permanent resident of Polish descent, 3.0 GPA, full-time sophomore or above. Part-time grad students eligible.
• Deadline: June 20, 2026
• Apply: prcua.org/scholarships

PRCUA — Fraternal Scholarship

A separate pool for PRCUA members, with the same academic requirements as the Educational Scholarship, but requiring five years of active membership and a whole life insurance policy.

• Amount: ~$25,000 pool
• Eligibility: PRCUA member (5+ years), $5,000 whole life insurance, Polish descent, 3.0 GPA
• Deadline: June 20, 2026

Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation (PAC) — Gorecki Scholarship

• Amount: $500–$2,000
• Eligibility: US citizen of Polish ancestry, 3.0 GPA, PAC Division member. Undergraduate (sophomore+) and postgrad.
• Deadline: January–April
• Apply: paccf.org

PAC — Majer and Lakowski Memorial

Can cover your entire in-state tuition for engineering or business students at a public university. Annually renewable.

• Amount: Up to annual in-state tuition
• Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate or graduate, engineering or business at a public university
• Deadline: March 15

Polish Falcons of America (PFA) — Dr. T.A. Starzynski Scholarship

• Amount: $1,500–$4,000
• Eligibility: PFA member for 4+ years. High school seniors and full-time undergrads.
• Deadline: February 15
• Apply: polishfalcons.org

Polish Falcons — Richard C. Gorecki Scholarship

One of the largest single awards in the directory. Three essays required.

• Amount: Up to $10,000 + performance bonuses
• Eligibility: PFA member, Polish descent. Undergraduate (junior+) and postgrad.
• Deadline: March 15

American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC) — Summer Study in Poland

For summer programs in Poland: language, history, culture.

• Amount: $2,000
• Eligibility: High school senior through graduate. Polish heritage or "thorough understanding of Polish culture."
• Deadline: April 1, 2026
• Apply: polishcultureacpc.org

Leonard Skowronski Polish Studies (ACPC)

• Amount: $3,000 × 2
• Eligibility: Undergraduate (3rd year+) and graduate pursuing Polish studies at a US university
• Deadline: April 5, 2026

Eye of the Eagle (ACPC)

Established 2018 in memory of Władysław Zachariasiewicz.

• Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: Undergraduate (junior+) and graduate pursuing journalism or mass media. Polish ancestry or understanding of Polish culture.
• Deadline: June 30, 2026

Pulaski Scholarships for Advanced Studies (ACPC)

• Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: Graduate students only, completed 1+ year of graduate studies, Polish heritage
• Deadline: March 27, 2026

Harriet Irsay Scholarship (American Institute of Polish Culture)

$20 application fee.

• Amount: $1,000–$2,000 (10–15 awards)
• Eligibility: Full-time at US university, preferably Polish descent
• Deadline: June 30
• Apply: ampolinstitute.com

Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union (PSFCU) — College Scholarship

• Amount: Varies (~$45,000 pool)
• Eligibility: PSFCU member, sophomore+ or graduate, 3.4 GPA, Polish community involvement
• Deadline: Spring
• Apply: psfcu.com

PSFCU — High School Senior Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $5,000
• Eligibility: PSFCU member, college-bound high school senior
• Deadline: January

Ralph Modjeski Memorial Scholarship

Polish American Engineers Association.

• Amount: $2,000 × 2
• Eligibility: Undergraduate engineering or architecture students, Polish heritage
• Deadline: approximately May 30
• Apply: polishengineers.org

Stan Musial Scholarship Fund

Administered by the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame (NPASHF). Named after the Hall of Fame outfielder, son of Polish immigrants.

• Amount: $500–$1,000
• Eligibility: High school seniors of Polish-American descent, 3.2 GPA, varsity athlete. Nominated by coach and principal. Essay required.
• Deadline: March 15
• Apply: polishsportshof.com

State and regional awards

The national programs get the press. The state and regional ones often get fewer applications, which means your odds tend to be better. If you live in or near one of these areas, they're worth your time.

Michigan — the strongest local ecosystem

If you're Polish-American in Michigan and you're not applying to at least three of these, you're leaving money behind.

• PAC Michigan Division — $2,000 × 10; undergrad 2nd year+; Polish-American activities; approximately May 30. pacmi.org
• Friends of Polish Art (FPA) — Mitchell Scholarship — $2,000 × 3; high school through Master's; law, medicine, engineering, sciences, liberal arts; April 24, 2026. friendsofpolishart.org
• FPA — Mitchell Fine Arts — $2,000 × 2; fine arts, creative writing, history, lit, philosophy, Polish studies; April 24, 2026
• American Polish Cultural Society (APCS) — ~$2,000; APCS members (2+ years); TBA (summer)
• Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids (PHS) — Varies; 2.75 GPA; April 10, 2026. polishheritagesociety.com
• Marciniec Grant (PAC Michigan) — $2,000; Polish language proficiency required; April 1

Illinois / Chicago

Copernicus Foundation Scholarship — Up to $5,000 (~$12,000 pool across 5–7 recipients); Polish descent; US citizen; undergraduate, graduate, or trade/vocational school; Chicago metropolitan area; strong preference for involvement in Chicago Polish-American community. One of the few Polish heritage scholarships that explicitly includes trade school students. Recipients presented at the Taste of Polonia Festival. Deadline: April 1, 2026. copernicuscenter.org/scholarships

Texas

• Bishop Yanta — Up to $10,000; Polish immigrant connection to Texas; practicing Catholic; March
• Polish Heritage Center — $500–$1,000; Polish heritage in Texas; March

New Jersey

• Polish Cultural Foundation of New Jersey (PCF) — $2,000; sophomore+; approximately April 15. pcfnj.org
• Polish American Club of North Jersey (PAC NJ) / Kosciuszko Foundation — $500–$2,000; approximately February
• Golda Scholarship (Union County College) — $500; 3.0 GPA; May 18, 2026

Pennsylvania

Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia — $1,000–$1,500; PA/NJ/DE; February 28. poles.org

Maryland

• Polish Heritage Association of Maryland (PHAM) — ~$2,500; spring 2026. phaofmd.org
• Polish American Arts Association (PAAA) — Up to $3,000; DC, Maryland, or Virginia residents; Polish heritage; March 31. paaa.us

Minnesota / Wisconsin

• Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota (PACIM) — Polanie Legacy — Up to $2,000; MN/WI preferred; July 31. pacim.org
• PACIM — Rog Endowment — Up to $2,000; Minnesota; July 31
• Polanki Achievement Awards — $750–$1,500; WI; approximately January

New York

• Polish and Slavic Center (PSC) Scholarship — $500–$6,000; undergraduate and graduate; Polish descent; PSC member for 1+ year; 3.2 GPA; $35 application fee; Brooklyn-based but open to Tri-State area. PSC is the largest Polish socio-cultural organization on the East Coast. Deadline: March 20, 2026. polishslaviccenter.org
• Polonia of Long Island Scholarship — approximately $1,000; full-time undergraduate (sophomore+); Polish descent; 3.2 GPA; must be a member of Polonia of Long Island, Inc. Over $70,000 awarded to 70+ recipients since 1999. Deadline: approximately April 15. lipl.org
• Leon Young Fund — $1,000+; Long Island HS seniors; May 3
• Chmura Memorial — $1,000 × 2; Brooklyn; November 30
• Larkowski Scholarship — $1,000; law students at IIT Chicago-Kent; December 6

New England

Polish American Women's Scholarship (PAHCF) — $1,500 / $750 / $500; New England women; June 19, 2026. bold.org

Connecticut

• Marconi-Javorski — $1,000; Hartford; May 1
• Tuneski/Sheflott — $1,000; SE Connecticut; Polish or Irish heritage; April 22, 2026

North Carolina

• PAC Triangle — Up to $1,000; October 15
• Majchrowicz Scholarship — $1,000; graduate (biomedical); April 1

Rhode Island

Rev. Slota — $500; HS seniors; February 15

California

Polish University Club of Los Angeles (PUCLA) — Undisclosed amount; sophomore+; Southern California; approximately April 20. pucla.org

Ohio Valley

Polish American Patriot Club — $1,000; Belmont/Marshall/Ohio County; March 15, 2026

University-tied awards

Some endowments are locked to specific schools. If you attend one, or you're deciding where to apply, check:

• Georgetown — Halstead Scholarship (Polish-American, financial need)
• Creighton — Scott Scholarship (preference for students from Poland; pre-med)
• Providence College — Nowel Scholarship (Polish descent, need)
• William Mitchell College of Law — Wasie Scholarship (Polish ancestry preference)
• Hilbert College — Pantera and Szymanski Scholarships (Polish heritage, need)
• Madonna University — Suchyta Scholarship ($1,000; Catholic, Polish, pre-med, 3.2 GPA)
• University of Wisconsin — KF Polish Language Scholarship

These are often buried in university financial aid databases. Ask your aid office specifically about Polish heritage funds. Endowments exist at schools that don't advertise them publicly.

Scholarships open to all — no membership required

A number of Polish-American scholarships carry no organisational membership requirement. The programmes below are open to any student of Polish descent who meets the academic and documentation criteria — no fraternal membership, no prior affiliation.

Most state and regional awards listed in this guide are also open without fraternal membership. If you can only apply to a handful of programs, start with the table above and add any regional awards from your state.

How to maximize your application odds

The application process for most of these follows a similar template, and once you've built the package once, each additional application is incremental work.

Start with documentation

Nearly every Polish-heritage scholarship requires proof of Polish ancestry. That typically means one of:

• A parent or grandparent's Polish birth certificate — the cleanest document
• Naturalization records showing a Polish-born ancestor entering the US
• Baptismal records from a Polish parish — often accepted when civil documents are missing
• A family statement — a written letter explaining your ancestry, sometimes accepted when formal documents aren't available

If you're unsure which documents you have or need, start gathering them early. Genealogical research can take weeks, and discovering you're missing a certificate two days before a deadline is a bad moment.

Apply to more programs than you think

After the first application, each additional scholarship typically needs only minor tailoring. The core essay can usually be adapted. The same recommendation letters often work across multiple programs. If you're already investing effort in the Kosciuszko Foundation application, applying to three more smaller programs on top is a low-effort decision.

Write an essay that's actually specific

Most scholarships ask a variant of: "Describe your Polish heritage and its impact on your educational goals." The weakest essays answer in generalities: "My heritage has taught me the value of hard work." The strongest essays are specific: a grandmother's voice on the phone speaking a language you didn't learn until college; a great-uncle's photograph from a village in Silesia; an academic interest sparked by a specific book. Reviewers read many of these essays. Particularity is what they remember.

Prepare recommendation letters early

Most programs require 1–2 letters. Teachers and professors write these thoughtfully when asked with lead time, rushed when asked last-minute. If you're planning to apply in January, ask your recommenders in November.

Watch the deadline calendar

Most deadlines in this guide fall between January and June:

• Early January: KF satellite awards (Zakrzewski, Massachusetts Federation, Roth)
• Late January – February: KF Tuition (Feb 27), Trefil, PFA Starzynski
• March: PAC Majer-Lakowski, Stan Musial, PFA Gorecki, ACPC Pulaski
• April: ACPC Summer Study, Skowronski, Copernicus, FPA Mitchell, Marciniec, PNA Undergraduate (mid-April)
• May: Kulze (May 8), Ralph Modjeski, PCF NJ, Golda
• June: PNA Graduate (June 15), PRCUA Educational & Fraternal (June 20), Eye of the Eagle, Harriet Irsay, New England Women's

If you plan to submit broadly, blocking December–January for essay drafting is the cleanest approach.

One tradeoff worth naming

Membership-required scholarships (PRCUA Fraternal, Polish Falcons, PAC, PSFCU) look like a barrier. They can also be an opportunity: smaller applicant pools follow from eligibility gates. If you or a family member join one or two fraternal societies now, it can open scholarships in later academic years with meaningfully less competition than open-access programs. For modest annual membership costs, the return can be significant, especially when memberships include other benefits like insurance.

Your Polish heritage — beyond scholarships

Scholarships are a practical way to put your Polish heritage to work. They're not the only one.

If you're documenting your ancestry for a scholarship application, you may discover that you're eligible for more than financial aid. Many people who approach us for ancestry documentation end up confirming Polish citizenship they didn't know they had. Under Polish law, citizenship passes through generations without a time limit. That means your parent's or grandparent's Polish citizenship may already be yours, regardless of how many generations back the line goes, provided it was never formally renounced.

A Polish passport is also an EU passport. That opens doors to EU residency, work rights across the 27 member states plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, and European university tuition rates that are often a fraction of US costs. At some public universities in Germany, Czechia, and several other EU countries, tuition is effectively zero.

The documents you gather for a scholarship application (birth certificates, baptismal records, family history) are often the same documents needed to start a Polish citizenship confirmation case.

If you want to find out whether your family history supports a citizenship case, we offer a free assessment — a starter review with an honest read on whether a case is strong, borderline, or unlikely before you invest in full document-gathering. No obligation; we're happy to point you in the right direction.

Frequently asked questions